I never killed Githurai brothers, bullets not from my gun – city cop

Posted on Nov 28, 2017
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A police officer whose arrest sparked several days of demonstrations by residents of Githurai 45 over the killing of two brothers suspected to be robbers, told a judge trying him for murder that he was framed by two rights groups and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa).

Mr Titus Ngamau Musila alias Katitu told judge James Wakiaga that he was innocent since he never shot dead Oscar Mwangi and his brother Kenneth Kimani Mwani.

The agencies are Muslims for Human Rights (Muhuri) and Independent Medico-Legal Unit (Imlu).

The accused is out on a Sh1 million bond stood for him by Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko Mbuvi.

Led in his defence by lawyer Cliff Ombeta, Mr Musila said he was victimised by Ipoa officers and officials of Muhuri and Imlu.

‘NEVER SHOT THEM’

“I was framed by Ipoa, Muhuri and Imlu that I killed Oscar Mwangi and his brother Kenneth Kimani. I never shot them,” Mr Musila said.

He pointed out that ballistic experts concluded that the bullet removed from the head of the deceased was not fired from his Ceska pistol.

He said Ipoa pressed for the murder charges against him when an inquest had been ordered to establish the cause of death of the two brothers.

Mr Musila, who has denied the charges, said he was seconded to the SPIV police unit and then posted to work in Githurai 45.

During his stint there, crime rate reduced “as area residents cooperated with me and even used to identify muggers to me”.

He caused laughter in the packed courtroom when he disclosed that thugs would “sell” their would-be victims’ shoes even before they got hold of the footwear.

Asked by Mr Ombeta to elaborate, Mr Musila said suspects would identify shoes or even clothes won by a person then look for potential buyers before “robbing their prey and selling the stolen items to ready buyers”.

UNENDING DEMOS

He told Justice Wakiaga that his arrest sparked unending demonstrations by residents led by former Ruiru MP Esther Gathogo, because they appreciated his hard work and commitment to stamping out thuggery in the area.

He narrated that on April 14, 2013, he accompanied two other officers to track down criminals stealing and snatching cell phones from wananchi at the Githurai 45 bus stage.

When Mwangi was pointed out to him, the latter took off and ran towards the Githurai roundabout, meandering around buses and matatus.

“I fired thrice in the air to scare the suspects and crowd, which had begun to swell. Oscar ran and hid behind a bus and when I went after him, I found him having been felled already,” Mr Musila said.

He said his two colleagues were never called upon to record statements nor were they charged alongside him over the killing.

He asked the judge to free him as no evidence has been tabled linking him to the deaths.